Third Person's POV.
Ohio moved with the speed of someone used to managing her friends' crises. After Penelope's frantic call, she didn't bother looking for a coat; she just grabbed a staff member's umbrella and ordered the first available taxi.
She found Gemini about three blocks from the Moore's mansion, sitting hunched on a bench at a deserted bus stop. He was a mess. The expensive suit was rumpled, his mask was gone, and his face was utterly devastated, stained with tears and shock. He was shivering, not just from the cool night air, but from the raw emotional breakdown.
"Gemini, thank God," Ohio breathed, collapsing onto the bench next to him and immediately pulling him into a tight, fierce hug. "Come on. Let's get you off the street."
She helped him stand, gently peeling him off the cold plastic bench. When she tried to steer them toward a taxi to head back to campus, Gemini resisted fiercely.
"No," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. "Not the dorm. I don't want to go anywhere that reminds me of him. Not his house, not my room. Anywhere else, please."
Ohio understood instantly. The dorm room was too close to Percy's influence; the shared memories would be unbearable right now. She changed directions, signaling the cab to take them to a nearby hotel instead.
Once they were safely checked into a room, Ohio ordered hot tea and insisted Gemini take a shower. She sat on the bed, feeling a heavy mix of anger at Mrs. Moore and profound sadness for her best friend. The fight they'd had was devastating, and right now, Gemini just needed to be wrapped in silence and comfort.
Meanwhile, Penelope was running on pure adrenaline and sheer, inherited willpower. She worked tirelessly to get her brother through the party. She helped Percy clean up his face, smoothed his suit, and whispered clear instructions into his ear: "Smile, Percy. Be charming. Don't let her win."
They spent the rest of the night playing the role of the perfect, gracious heirs. Percy, despite the crushing pain, managed to maintain the necessary illusion. He laughed, he danced the required number of dances, and he accepted compliments with practiced ease. But every time his eyes flickered toward the entrance, his pain was evident only to Penelope.
The official party ended at midnight, but the celebration continued with an exclusive after-party at a grand hotel in the heart of the city—a place far away from the prying eyes of their parents. When Penelope was finally able to slip away from the noise, she found a quiet corner to make a necessary call.
"Ohio? How is he?" she asked immediately, skipping the greetings.
"He's awful, Pen," Ohio confirmed, her voice low. "He's crying and won't talk about it. He's safe, though. We're at the Royal Suite downtown. He refused to go back to campus."
Penelope sighed, rubbing her temples. "God, I can't believe these two idiots have to have a fight today of all days. It's like they waited for the highest possible stakes to implode."
"It wasn't just a fight, Penelope," Ohio corrected softly. "It was a breakup. Your mother threatened his future. He chose his scholarship over a very intense, very scary relationship. Can you blame him?"
Penelope pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know. Listen, I can't leave Percy yet, but I wanted to make sure you have everything you need. Put the room charge on my card. Don't leave him. I'll deal with Percy and our parents in the morning. Just keep Gemini safe, okay?"
Penelope ended the call, tucked her phone away, and pasted her bright, social smile back on. She had a twin to watch over and a social disaster to manage, and she knew Percy's battle with their mother was just beginning.